Please help an international student with CommonApp! Please!!

omega007
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:41 +0000

1) Here is the international supp: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/International_Supplement.pdf
By the way, you don’t have to fill the international supplement. As you don’t have a guidance counselor, it should be filled by your principal/headmaster (preferably) or a senior teacher.

2) Yes, it is an additional document which consists of all the grades from your 9th grade onwards including your O-Level and A-Level results along with predicted grades for your senior year stamped and attested by your school. If your principal is doing the whole process online, he has to do it electronically. Here is a sample but it isn’t 100% accurate: http://www.documentprofessionals.com/Graphics/HStransLRG.gif

3) The additional info section is used by applicants if something cannot be mentioned clearly on the original common app or if the applicant wants to mention something in detail. The college would know through the international supplement and transcript that you’re doing A-Levels. Therefore, it is not necessary to mention that you are doing A-Levels. You can use the Additional Info section for proliferating your Extracurriculars or letting the admission committee know something they would be interested to know.

4) Fill the current year courses with the system the examination board follows. If you’re following CIE, I believe the examination is held in November and June and if you’re following EDEXCEL, the exam is held in January and June. That usually means that a trimester system isn’t followed and you may fill the first two semesters only. There are many methods in approaching it and one method which I personally used is: Name of Module/Unit, (A-Level, Name of board). For example: Mechanics 2 (A-Level, CIE) or Physics 3 (A-Level, EDEXCEL).

5) The teacher recommendation should be preferably filled electronically because schools usually prefer it online and it saves time and cost. A teacher recommendation includes an evaluation box which must be filled and teachers are required to attach an additional evaluation. The additional evaluation is usually the formal evaluation/recommendation.

6) That depends from school to school. For example, the Peer recommendation of Dartmouth college must be sent by mail. If a school doesn’t ask for an additional recommendation, DO NOT try to volunteer them. Remember, colleges don’t have enough time in reviewing applications and will probably ignore your peer/employer recommendation. But I wouldn’t discourage you to send one. ;)

7) That is a misconception you have. Colleges accept both mail and online applications. I personally prefer the online application because it is fast, secure and costless. It is completely your wish on what you do. But except for the peer/employer recommendation, DO NOT send your application partially by mail and partially online.

Feel free to ask any questions you have. Best of luck with your applications! :D